Redevelopment and Revitalization

Redevelopment is a tool created
by state law (CA Health & Safety Code Section 33330 et seq.) to assist
local governments in eliminating blight from a designated area, stimulate
community development and achieve community goals. Redevelopment can help communities implement
a revitalization effort in their downtown, neighborhood or industrial areas.
Redevelopment plans are locally created and adopted so they respond to a
community’s unique needs and vision.

Establishing redevelopment areas
allows cities and counties an opportunity to collect Tax Increment (TI) – the
difference between the property tax generated at the formation of the
redevelopment area and future property tax generation. Redevelopment Agencies can use that TI to generate
resources for redevelopment efforts in their redevelopment areas and 20% of
this TI is set aside for housing creation.
When these funds are reinvested, more development occurs, which in turn
produces more tax increment. This
provides a sustainable financing mechanism that continues to provide resources
to the community during the term of the redevelopment plan.

Redevelopment is revived
business districts, revitalization of deteriorating neighborhoods,
infrastructure improvements, clean up of contaminated and dilapidated
properties and the building and rehabilitation of housing, community centers,
parks, and public amenities.

Tools for implementation are
numerous. They include: studies,
strategies and planning documents; financing; land acquisition; incentives;
“districts”; renovation; public facilities improvements; new commercial and
housing development. There are many
tools in this toolbox that are a part of “redevelopment and revitalization”. They include: Economic Development Strategies;
Fiscal Impact Analysis; Market Feasibility Analysis; Mixed-Use Development
Standards; Pedestrian/Bicycle Friendly Design; Form-Based Codes; Sustainability
Planning.

A joint initiative of San Joaquin Valley Councils of Governments representing each of the region's eight counties, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, the Great Valley Center, and the Fresno State Community and Regional Planning Center